China warns it could be even more aggressive over Taiwan

Speculation over a possible visit by Mr McCarthy to Taiwan has angered Beijing, which claims the island nation as its territory. It appears a meeting has been arranged in the US instead, reportedly to avoid further tensions with China.

But Mr McCarthy has not ruled out a trip to Taiwan later this year, telling reporters: “China can’t tell me where and when I can go.”

Chinese state media yesterday warned such meetings, no matter where they took place, would be considered a serious affront by Beijing.

Mr McCarthy’s actions “will inevitably cause new tensions across the Taiwan strait, and China’s countermeasures may be even more decisive than those seen during [former US House speaker] Nancy Pelosi’s last visit to the island,” Chinese state media said.

China staged wide-scale military drills last August when Ms Pelosi touched down in Taipei and met Ms Tsai, including shooting missiles over the island in a show of force.

High-profile meetings between officials from Taiwan and other nations have always angered the Chinese government. Beijing views them as a direct challenge to its claims of sovereignty, even though the ruling Chinese Communist Party has never controlled Taiwan.

For the most part, many nations have toed the line to avoid upsetting Beijing, including refusing to establish diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

But concerns over an increasingly belligerent and bellicose China – especially when it comes to Taiwan – has worried the US and other Western nations.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has vowed to “reunify” mainland China with Taiwan, even if it means resorting to force, as part of his plan for “national rejuvenation”. (© Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2023)

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